My wife had been dying to show our kids one of her all-time favorite tear-jerkers, the 1979 version of “The Champ.” At a house party, she finally got her chance: 11 girls, ages 11 to 14, lined up on our couch and looking for some entertainment.

Within an hour, 10 of the girls were crying their eyes out, and the 11th was blinking suspiciously fast. Ricky Schroder’s acting debut in “The Champ” is a three-alarm, three-hanky movie of the highest order, perfect for your kids who don’t get to see many truly sad films.

Director Franco Zeffirelli makes beautiful pictures, from Shakespeare to the life of St. Francis. In “The Champ,” he imbues Florida with some oldtime movie magic, retelling the tale of a washed-up former boxer trying to shed booze and gambling to win back his son.

Jon Voight plays Billy, a horse trainer who raises his son (Schroder) around the pastel- colored racetracks of Florida. TJ’s long-lost mother appears in the beatific form of Faye Dunaway, and she wants to raise him in the high society she has struggled to attain. To impress his son one last time, Billy fights an epic bout that threatens his life.

Spoiler alert, only to protect your most sensitive children: “The Champ” has one of the saddest endings in family movie history, and the middle has its shocking spots, too. But we protect our kids so much from sickness and danger, seeing it on screen in a safe family setting can bring out some important emotions.

Each Tuesday, Michael Booth uncovers a movie gem for families in search of rewarding entertainment. Keep up on film at denverpostbloghouse.com/movies